Air data probe electronics housing with thermal isolating features

ABSTRACT

In some applications, aircraft air data probes are heated to prevent rain, ice, or other moisture from attaching to the air data probe, ensuring proper functionality of the air data probe. But the elevated temperatures can have negative effects on the electronic components positioned within the air data probe. Therefore, thermal isolating features are added to a housing to thermally isolate the heated parts of the air data probe from the electronic components within the air data probe, which are required to stay relatively cool for proper functioning.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to air data probes on anaircraft, and more particularly to an air data probe electronics housingwith thermal isolating features.

Some aircraft air data probes are heated to prevent rain, ice, or othermoisture from attaching to the probe, which could negatively impact thefunctionality of the air data probe. In many cases, the heat is elevatedto extremely hot temperatures to ensure there is no ice accretion on theair data probe during flight of the aircraft. However, there arematerials and components within the air data probes in which excess heatis detrimental. As such, there is a need for preventing damage to thematerials and components positioned within the heated air data probes.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the disclosure, an air data probe isdisclosed. The air data probe includes a body comprising an inletfluidly coupled to an outlet. A heating element is positioned within thebody of the air data probe, and the heating element is configured toincrease a temperature of the body. A sensing probe is positioned withinthe body, and the sensing probe includes a sensing base coupling thesensing probe to the body. A housing is positioned within and coupled tothe body. The housing includes a housing body including an uppersurface, a lower surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, an innerwall, and an outer wall. The inner wall is offset from the outer wallsuch that a gap is positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a housing for surroundingelectrical components within an air data probe configured to gather dataduring flight of an aircraft is disclosed. The housing includes an uppersurface, a lower surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a rimpositioned adjacent the upper surface, and a lower body positionedadjacent the lower surface. An inner wall is offset from an outer wallsuch that a gap is positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall.The inner wall and the outer wall converge and are coupled adjacent thelower body of the housing body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of an exemplary air data probe used on anaircraft.

FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of a housing within theexemplary air data probe taken along Section A-A of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an exemplary housing.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary housing taken alongSection B-B of FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a side view of air data probe 10 used on an aircraft (notshown). FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of housing 12positioned within air data probe 10 taken along Section A-A of FIG. 1A.FIGS. 1A-1B will be discussed together. Further, hereinafter, air dataprobe 10 will be referred to as probe 10, but it is to be understoodthat probe 10 is referring to air data probe 10. Probe 10 is a devicewhich detects or measures a physical property and records, initiates, orotherwise responds to the detected or measured physical property. Insome examples, probe 10 can be used to detect the total air temperature,air pressure, air velocity, and/or air density, among other propertiesnot specifically described, during flight of an aircraft. Further, insome examples, probe 10 can be positioned at the nose cone of anaircraft such that probe 10 is positioned partially within the skin ofthe aircraft and partially outside the skin of the aircraft.

Since a portion of probe 10 is positioned outside the skin of theaircraft, probe 10 can experience harsh operating conditions including,but not limited to low operating temperatures, ice, rain, sleet, snow,etc. In some examples, to ensure proper functionality of probe 10, probe10 can be heated to prevent ice, rain, or other precipitation fromaccumulating on probe 10 during flight of the aircraft. Heating probe 10can melt ice on probe 10, allowing the precipitation to blow off probe10 during flight conditions. Further, heating probe 10 can facilitateevaporation of any precipitation on probe 10 during flight conditions.Probe 10 is configured to gather air data during flight of the aircraft,providing the pilots of the aircraft critical information during flightconditions. As such, it is important that probe 10 is functioningproperly and providing the pilots of the aircraft accurate information.

Referring to FIG. 1A, probe 10 includes body 14, flange 16, electricalconnector 18, inlet 20, and outlet 22. Body 14 is the main structure ofprobe 10 that protects the components within probe 10 from environmentalconditions. In some examples, body 14 can be constructed from at leastone metallic material. In other examples, body 14 can be constructedfrom a ceramic material, a polymeric material, and/or a compositematerial. With that said, the following discussion with focus on anembodiment in which body 14 is constructed from a metallic material.Body 14 includes inlet 20 positioned at a distal end of probe 10 andoutlet 22 positioned generally at a central portion of probe 10. Inlet20 is positioned at a first distal end of probe 10. More specifically,inlet 20 is positioned at the distal end of probe 10 positioned outsidethe skin of the aircraft. Inlet 20 can be an aperture extending throughbody 14, allowing air from outside the aircraft to enter and flowthrough inlet 20 into body 14. The air that flows through inlet 20proceeds by flowing through body 14 and then exits body 14 by flowingoutwards through outlet 22. Outlet 22 can be an aperture that extendsthrough body 14, allowing air from within body 14 to flow out throughoutlet 22 to exit probe 10. In some examples, as shown, outlet 22 can bepositioned generally at the central portion of probe 10 adjacent flange16.

Flange 16 is positioned adjacent outlet 22 generally at a centralportion of probe 10. Flange 16 extends outwards from the main portionsof body 14 and flange 16 extends fully around an outer surface of body14 of probe 10. As such, flange 16 is a flat rim or collar extendingoutwards from body 14 around an exterior of body 14. In some examples,flange 16 can have a circular cross-section viewing in the axialdirection along probe 10. In other examples, flange 16 can have across-section of any geometric shape. Flange 16 is the feature of probe10 that separates the portions of probe 10 positioned within andpositioned outside the skin of an aircraft. More specifically, theportion of probe 10 including inlet 20 and outlet 22 is positioned onthe outside of the skin of the aircraft and the portion of probe 10including electrical connector 18 is positioned on the inside of theskin of the aircraft. Electrical connector 18 can be any electricalconnector that creates an electrical connection between probe 10 andelectronics on an aircraft. As shown in FIG. 1A, in some exampleselectrical connector 18 can include a threaded connection for securingprobe 10 to an aircraft electrical system.

Referring to FIG. 1B, which is a partial cross-sectional view of probe10 taken along Section A-A of FIG. 1A, probe 10 also includes heatingelement 24, sensing probe 26, sensing base 28, electrical wires 30,electrical leads 32, housing 12, and potting 34, each of which arepositioned within body 14 of housing 12. In the example shown, probe 10includes one heating element 24 wrapped around an outer surface of probe10. In another example, probe 10 can include more than one heatingelement 24. In the example shown, heating element 24 is wrapped aroundan outer surface of probe 10 to facilitate melting of ice or evaporationof fluid on outer surfaces of probe 10. Heating element 24 can be anelectrical resistance heating element that increases in temperature whenan electrical current is transferred to the electrical resistanceheating element. In some examples, heating element 24 can be electricalwires or electrical pads, among other options, that increase intemperature when an electrical current is transferred to heating element24, such that heating element 24 increases the temperature of body 14.

Sensing probe 26 and sensing base 28 are components of probe 10positioned within body 14 and generally aligned with a central axis ofprobe 10. Sensing probe 26 is the component of probe 10 which detects ormeasures a physical property of the air flowing through probe 10. Morespecifically, air from outside the aircraft flows through inlet 20 intobody 14 and follows the flow path, indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1B,through body 14 to outlet 22. As such, the air flowing through probe 10flows past sensing probe 26 within body 14 and sensing probe 26 cangather the desired data from the air flow before the air exits probe 10through outlet 22. Sensing probe 26 is coupled to sensing base 28 tosecure sensing probe 26 in a fixed position during operation of probe10. Further, sensing base 28 is coupled to internal surfaces or featuresof body 14 to secure both sensing base 28 and sensing probe 26 in afixed position during operation of probe 10 on an aircraft.

Electrical wires 30 are electrically coupled to and extend from a distalend of sensing probe 26 positioned within housing 12 of probe 10.Electrical wires 30 are configured to transfer data gathered by sensingprobe 26 to an electrical system and/or a controller on an aircraft.More specifically, a plurality of electrical wires 30 are electricallycoupled to a plurality of electrical leads 32, and the plurality ofelectrical leads 32 are coupled to electrical connector 18 of probe 10.As such, air data gathered by sensing probe 26 is transferred throughelectrical wires 30, through electrical leads 32, through electricalconnector 18, and to an electrical controller system of an aircraft.Therefore, electrical wires 30, electrical leads 32, and electricalconnector 18 allow the transfer of data from sensing probe 26 to anaircraft, and breaking the electrical connection between any of thecomponents can prevent the transfer of data from sensing probe 26 to anaircraft. As such, maintaining the electrical connection betweenelectrical wires 30, electrical leads 32, and electrical connector 18 iscritical to maintaining proper functioning of probe 10.

Housing 12 is positioned within body 14 of probe 10 and housing 12 iscoupled to body 14 of probe 10. In some examples, housing 12 can becoupled to internal surfaces or features of body 14 through a weldedconnection. As such, in some examples, housing 12 can be constructedfrom a metallic material. In other examples, housing 12 can beconstructed from a non-metallic material and housing 12 can be coupledto body 14 through an adhesive, a mechanical feature, or a fastener,among other options. Further, in some examples, housing 12 can beaxially aligned with a central axis of probe 10. Therefore, in someexamples, housing 12 can be positioned concentric with body 14 of probe10. Housing 12 is fixedly positioned within body 14 of probe andadjacent sensing base 28 of probe 10. Further, housing 12 is positionedsuch that housing 12 surrounds the plurality of electrical wires 30extending from sensing probe 26. More specifically, housing 12 ispositioned such that housing 12 surrounds a connection point between theplurality of electrical wires 30 and the plurality of electrical leads32 such that the plurality of electrical wires 30 and the plurality ofelectrical leads 32 extend within a center opening within housing 12. Inaddition, the connection point between the plurality of electrical wires30 and the plurality of electrical leads 32 is encompassed by potting34.

Potting 34 is positioned within an inner surface of housing 12 andpotting 34 is positioned adjacent an upper surface of housing 12. Insome examples, as shown in FIG. 1B, potting 34 extends only a partialdistance from an upper surface of housing 12 towards a lower surface ofhousing 12. In other examples, potting 34 can extend a full distancefrom an upper surface of housing 12 to a lower surface of housing 12.Further, potting 34 can encompass and fully surround the connectionpoint between the plurality of electrical wires 30 and the plurality ofelectrical leads 32. As such, potting 34 is configured to aid insecuring the connection between the plurality of electrical wires 30 andthe plurality of electrical leads 32. In some examples, potting 34 canprovide vibration support to the plurality of electrical wires 30 andthe plurality of electrical leads 32, and potting 34 can act as anelectrical isolator between the plurality of electrical wires 30, theplurality of electrical leads 32, and housing 12. In some examples,potting 34 can be constructed from a high-temperature epoxy material,such that potting 34 is introduced into housing 12 as a fluid and thensolidifies to produce the vibration support and electrical isolation.

Although potting 34 can be constructed from a high-temperature epoxymaterial, the heat produced by heating element 24 of probe 10 can haveundesirable effects on potting 34. For example, some high-temperatureepoxy materials are designed to prevent melting under high temperatures,but if a high enough temperature is reached the high-temperature epoxymaterial could crack due to its brittle material properties. Further,potting 34 is likely to have different material properties than themetallic components surrounding potting 34, such as housing 12 and body14 of probe 10. Therefore, potting 34 is likely to have a differentcoefficient of thermal expansion than housing 12 and when heat isapplied to housing 12 and potting 34, the components will expand atdiffering rates. High-temperature epoxy material generally expand at agreater rate than metallic materials due when heat is applied to thecomponents. As such, when heat is applied to potting 34 and housing 12,potting 34 can expand at a greater rate than housing 12 which can causepotting 34 to expand outside its intended adhesion area. In somescenarios, potting 34 can expand to an extent that it pulls apart andbreaks the connection between the plurality of electrical wires 30 andthe plurality of electrical leads 32. In turn, this can sever theelectrical connection between probe 10 and an aircraft, preventing datafrom transferring from probe 10 to the aircraft. To remedy thispotential issue, housing 12 includes features preventing damage to theplurality of electrical wires 30 and the plurality of electrical leads32.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of housing 12 shown in FIG. 1B. FIG. 2B isa cross-sectional view of housing 12 taken along Section B-B of FIG. 2A.FIGS. 2A-2B will be discussed together. Housing 12 includes housing body36 including upper surface 38, lower surface 40, inner surface 42, outersurface 44, rim 46, lower body 48, first alignment feature 50, secondalignment feature 52, inner wall 54, and outer wall 56. Upper surface 38is a surface at a first distal end of housing 12 and lower surface 40 isa surface at a second distal end of housing 12, opposite first distalend. As shown best in FIG. 2B, inner surface 42 is the surfacepositioned within the walls constituting housing 12 and outer surface 44is the surface positioned outside the walls constituting housing 12. Inthe example shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, housing 12 includes a circularcross-section in the axial direction such that housing 12 has agenerally cylindrical shape. In other examples, housing 12 can have anaxial cross-section of any geometrical shape.

Rim 46 is positioned adjacent upper surface 38 of housing 12 and rim 46extends fully around a perimeter or circumference of housing 12, aboutcentral axis CL of housing 12. Rim 46 is a ledge or cutout that extendsinwards from outer surface 44 towards central axis CL of housing 12. Assuch, an inner surface or edge of rim 46 has a smaller diameter thanouter surface 44 of housing 12. Rim 46 is configured to aid in theproper positioning of housing 12 within body 14 of probe 10. Lower body48 is positioned adjacent lower surface 40 of housing 12 and lower body48 extends fully around outer surface 44 of housing 12, about centralaxis CL of housing 12. Lower body 48 is a portion of housing 12 thatextends outwards from outer surface 44 of housing 12 away from centralaxis CL of housing 12. As such, lower body 48 has a larger diameter thanouter surface 44 of housing 12. Further, in the example shown, an outerdiameter of rim 46 is less than an outer diameter of lower body 48.Lower body 48 having a larger diameter than rim 46 and outer surface 44aids in housing 12 being correctly positioned within body 14 of probe10.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, housing body 36 also includes first alignmentfeature and second alignment feature 52. First alignment feature 50 ispositioned adjacent rim 46 of housing 12 and second alignment feature 52is positioned adjacent lower body 48 of housing 12. First alignmentfeature 50 is a cutout or indent extending into housing body 36 adjacentrim 46 and upper surface 38 of housing 12. Second alignment feature 52is a protrusion extending outwards from outer surface 44 of housing body36. In the example shown, first alignment feature has a generallyrectangular shape, but in another example first alignment feature 50could have any geometric shape. Further, in the example shown, secondalignment feature 52 is a generally triangular shaped protrusion, but inanother example second alignment feature 52 could be any geometricshaped protrusion. First alignment feature 50 and second alignmentfeature 52 are vertically aligned with respect to a vertical planeextending from lower surface 40 of housing 12 to upper surface 38 ofhousing 12. First alignment feature 50 and second alignment feature 52aid in housing 12 being correctly positioned within body 14 of probe 10.More specifically, first alignment feature 50 and second alignmentfeature 52 are configured to mate with mating features of body 14 ofprobe 10 to ensure housing 12 is oriented in the correct position whilebeing inserted into body 14 of probe 10.

As shown best in FIG. 2B, housing 12 includes inner wall 54 and outerwall 56. Inner wall 54 is generally a hollow cylinder extending fromlower body 48 to upper surface 38 of housing 12. More specifically,inner wall 54 extends a partial distance from lower body 48 and outerwall 56 of housing 12 towards central axis CL and then inner wall 54angles upward such that a portion of inner wall 54 is parallel withcentral axis CL. In the example shown, the portion of inner wall 54parallel with central axis CL is a hollow cylinder with a circularcross-section. In another example, inner wall 54 can have across-section of any geometric shape. Outer wall 56 is generally ahollow cylinder that extends from lower body 48 to upper surface 38.Outer wall 56 is oriented parallel to central axis CL and outer wall 56is concentric with inner wall 54. In the example shown, outer wall 56 isa hollow cylinder with a circular cross-section. In another example,outer wall 56 can have a cross-section of any geometric shape.

Outer wall 56 fully surrounds an outer circumference of inner wall 54.More specifically, inner wall 54 is offset from outer wall 56 in adirection towards central axis CL such that a gap is positioned betweeninner wall 54 and outer wall 56. Further, a portion of inner wall 54converges with outer wall 56 such that inner wall 54 and outer wall 56are coupled adjacent lower body 48 of housing 12. The gap between innerwall 54 and outer wall 56 is an air gap in which air or other gas isfree to flow within, discussed further below. In the example shown,inner wall 54 and outer wall 56 have equal thicknesses. In anotherexample, inner wall 54 and outer wall 56 can have differing thicknesses.The thickness of inner wall 54 and outer wall 56 can differ depending onrequisite physical properties of housing 12.

Central aperture 58 is formed by inner surface 42 of inner wall 54.Central aperture 58 is axially aligned with central axis CL and centralaperture 58 extends through housing 12 from upper surface 38 to lowersurface 40 of housing 12. Referring again to FIG. 1B, central aperture58 is configured to allow a distal end of sensing probe 26, electricalwires 30, and electrical leads 32 to be positioned within and extend atleast partially through central aperture 58. In the example shown,central aperture 58 has a circular cross-section in the axial directionof central axis CL. In other examples, central aperture 58 could haveany geometric shape as its cross-section in the axial direction ofcentral axis CL. Housing 12 also includes a plurality of apertures 60extending through upper surface 38 of housing body 36 to the gappositioned between inner wall 54 and outer wall 56. The plurality ofapertures 60 are configured to allow air or other gas to flow into andout of the gap positioned between inner wall 54 and outer wall 56.

Housing 12 with inner wall 54 and outer wall 56 can be manufacturedusing an additive manufacturing process, such as a laser powder bedfusion process. As such, housing 12 is grown in a vertical directionstarting at lower surface 40 and finishing at upper surface 38. In someexamples, housing 12 can be constructed from a metallic material. Inother examples, housing 12 can be constructed from a ceramic material, apolymeric material, and/or a composite material. The plurality ofapertures 60 positioned adjacent upper surface 38 of housing 12 also aidin removing any excess material from the gap between inner wall 54 andouter wall 56 that may have accumulated within the gap during theadditive manufacturing process.

Referring again to FIG. 1B, during assembly of probe 10, housing 12 ispressed into body 14, housing 12 is then welded or otherwise coupled tobody 14, and electrical wires 30 are soldered or otherwise electricallycoupled to electrical leads 32. Then a liquefied potting 34 is dispensedwithin inner surface 42 of inner wall 54 of housing 12 and the potting34 is subsequently cured and allowed to harden within inner surface 42of inner wall 54 of housing 12. The cured potting 34 positioned withininner surface 42 of inner wall 54 encompasses and fully surrounds theconnection point between electrical wires 30 and electrical leads 32.

During use of probe 10 on an aircraft, probe 10 is heated throughheating element 24 and potting 34 will increase in temperature andexpand in volume. But the gap positioned between inner wall 54 and outerwall 56 acts as a thermal isolator and the air within the gap absorbssome of the heat before the heat can reach potting 34. As such, the gap(thermal isolator) minimizes the amount of heat absorbed by potting 34and therefore minimizes the amount of expansion of potting 34. Further,potting 34 being positioned only within inner surface 42 of inner wall54 results in potting 34 having less total volume, as compared to ahousing without the inner wall, the outer wall, and the air gap betweenthe walls. In turn, the reduced volume of potting 34 within housing 12further minimizes the expansion of potting 34 within housing 12, ascompared to a potting within a housing without the inner wall, outerwall, and air gap.

As such, including inner wall 54, outer wall 56, and the air gap betweenthe walls within housing 12 hinders potting 34 from growing outside itsintended adhesion area. In turn, this prevents potting 34 from expandingtoo much and breaking apart the electrical connection between electricalwires 30 and electrical leads 32, ensuring the electronic componentswithin probe 10 remain functional during heating of probe 10. Protectingthe electronic components within probe 10 makes probe 10 more robust andallows probe 10 to continue working accurately during heatingconditions. Probe 10 including inner wall 54, outer wall 56, and the airgap between the walls prevents damage to the electronic componentswithin probe 10 by ensuring the heat induced on probe 10 does not havedetrimental effects to the electronic components. As such, probe 10 canbe heated to prevent rain and ice buildup and probe 10 will continuetransferring accurate data to the pilot and the co-pilot during flightof the aircraft.

Discussion of Possible Embodiments

The following are non-exclusive descriptions of possible embodiments ofthe present invention.

An air data probe comprising: a body comprising an inlet fluidly coupledto an outlet; a heating element positioned within the body of the airdata probe, wherein the heating element is configured to increase atemperature of the body; a sensing probe positioned within the body,wherein the sensing probe includes a sensing base coupling the sensingprobe to the body; and a housing positioned within and coupled to thebody, wherein the housing includes: a housing body including an uppersurface, a lower surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, an innerwall, and an outer wall; wherein the inner wall is offset from the outerwall such that a gap is positioned between the inner wall and the outerwall.

The air data probe of the preceding paragraph can optionally include,additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the followingfeatures, configurations and/or additional components:

The housing surrounds a plurality of electrical wires extending from thesensing probe, and wherein the plurality of electrical wires areelectrically coupled to a plurality of electrical leads.

A connection point between the plurality of electrical wires and theplurality of electrical leads is encompassed by a potting, and whereinthe potting is positioned within the inner wall of the housing.

The potting extends a partial distance from the upper surface of thehousing towards the lower surface of the housing, and wherein thepotting is constructed from a high-temperature epoxy material.

A plurality of apertures extend through the upper surface of the housingbody to the gap positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall ofthe housing body.

The inner wall and the outer wall of the housing body have equalthicknesses; and the outer wall of the housing body fully surrounds acircumference of the inner wall of the housing body.

The inner wall is a hollow cylinder extending from the lower body to theupper surface, and wherein the outer wall is a hollow cylinder extendingfrom the lower body to the upper surface, and wherein the inner wall andthe outer wall are concentric.

A flange extending around an outer surface of the body and an electricalconnector positioned at a distal end of the air data probe opposite theinlet of the air data probe.

The housing is coupled to the body through a welded connection.

The air data probe is a total air temperature probe configured tomeasure air temperature outside an outer skin of an aircraft.

The following are further non-exclusive descriptions of possibleembodiments of the present invention.

A housing for surrounding electrical components within an air data probeconfigured to gather data during flight of an aircraft, the housingcomprising: a housing body including an upper surface, a lower surface,an inner surface, an outer surface, a rim positioned adjacent the uppersurface, and a lower body positioned adjacent the lower surface; and aninner wall offset from an outer wall such that a gap is positionedbetween the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein the inner wall andthe outer wall converge and are coupled adjacent the lower body of thehousing body.

The housing of the preceding paragraph can optionally include,additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the followingfeatures, configurations and/or additional components:

A first alignment feature and a second alignment feature, wherein thefirst alignment feature is positioned adjacent the rim of the housingbody, and wherein the second alignment feature is positioned adjacentthe lower body of the housing body.

The first alignment feature and the second alignment feature arevertically aligned with respect to a vertical plane extending from thelower surface to the upper surface of the housing body; the firstalignment feature is an indentation extending into the housing body; andthe second alignment feature is a protrusion extending outwards from theouter surface of the housing body.

A plurality of apertures extend through the upper surface of the housingbody to the gap positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall.

The inner wall and the outer wall have equal thicknesses.

The outer wall fully surrounds a circumference of the inner wall.

The inner wall is a hollow cylinder extending from the lower body to theupper surface, and wherein the outer wall is a hollow cylinder extendingfrom the lower body to the upper surface, and wherein the inner wall andthe outer wall are concentric.

The inner wall extends a partial distance from the outer wall of thehousing towards a central axis of the housing, such that an aperturealigned with the central axis extends through the housing from the uppersurface to the lower surface of the housing.

The housing includes a circular cross-section, such that the housing isgenerally cylindrical in shape.

An outer diameter of the rim is less than an outer diameter of the lowerbody.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that theinvention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

1. An air data probe comprising: a body comprising an inlet fluidlycoupled to an outlet; a heating element positioned within the body ofthe air data probe, wherein the heating element is configured toincrease a temperature of the body; a sensing probe positioned withinthe body, wherein the sensing probe includes a sensing base coupling thesensing probe to the body; and a housing positioned within and coupledto the body, wherein the housing includes: a housing body including anupper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, aninner wall, and an outer wall; wherein the inner wall is offset from theouter wall such that a gap is positioned between the inner wall and theouter wall.
 2. The air data probe of claim 1, wherein the housingsurrounds a plurality of electrical wires extending from the sensingprobe, and wherein the plurality of electrical wires are electricallycoupled to a plurality of electrical leads.
 3. The air data probe ofclaim 2, wherein a connection point between the plurality of electricalwires and the plurality of electrical leads is encompassed by a potting,and wherein the potting is positioned within the inner wall of thehousing.
 4. The air data probe of claim 3, wherein the potting extends apartial distance from the upper surface of the housing towards the lowersurface of the housing, and wherein the potting is constructed from ahigh-temperature epoxy material.
 5. The air data probe of claim 1,wherein a plurality of apertures extend through the upper surface of thehousing body to the gap positioned between the inner wall and the outerwall of the housing body.
 6. The air data probe of claim 1, wherein: theinner wall and the outer wall of the housing body have equalthicknesses; and the outer wall of the housing body fully surrounds acircumference of the inner wall of the housing body.
 7. The air dataprobe of claim 1, wherein the inner wall is a hollow cylinder extendingfrom the lower body to the upper surface, and wherein the outer wall isa hollow cylinder extending from the lower body to the upper surface,and wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are concentric.
 8. The airdata probe of claim 1 and further comprising a flange extending aroundan outer surface of the body and an electrical connector positioned at adistal end of the air data probe opposite the inlet of the air dataprobe.
 9. The air data probe of claim 1, wherein the housing is coupledto the body through a welded connection.
 10. The air data probe of claim1, wherein the air data probe is a total air temperature probeconfigured to measure air temperature outside an outer skin of anaircraft.
 11. A housing for surrounding electrical components within anair data probe configured to gather data during flight of an aircraft,the housing comprising: a housing body including an upper surface, alower surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a rim positionedadjacent the upper surface, and a lower body positioned adjacent thelower surface; and an inner wall offset from an outer wall such that agap is positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein theinner wall and the outer wall converge and are coupled adjacent thelower body of the housing body.
 12. The housing of claim 11 and furthercomprising a first alignment feature and a second alignment feature,wherein the first alignment feature is positioned adjacent the rim ofthe housing body, and wherein the second alignment feature is positionedadjacent the lower body of the housing body.
 13. The housing of claim12, wherein: the first alignment feature and the second alignmentfeature are vertically aligned with respect to a vertical planeextending from the lower surface to the upper surface of the housingbody; the first alignment feature is an indentation extending into thehousing body; and the second alignment feature is a protrusion extendingoutwards from the outer surface of the housing body.
 14. The housing ofclaim 11, wherein a plurality of apertures extend through the uppersurface of the housing body to the gap positioned between the inner walland the outer wall.
 15. The housing of claim 11, wherein the inner walland the outer wall have equal thicknesses.
 16. The housing of claim 11,wherein the outer wall fully surrounds a circumference of the innerwall.
 17. The housing of claim 11, wherein the inner wall is a hollowcylinder extending from the lower body to the upper surface, and whereinthe outer wall is a hollow cylinder extending from the lower body to theupper surface, and wherein the inner wall and the outer wall areconcentric.
 18. The housing of claim 11, wherein the inner wall extendsa partial distance from the outer wall of the housing towards a centralaxis of the housing, such that an aperture aligned with the central axisextends through the housing from the upper surface to the lower surfaceof the housing.
 19. The housing of claim 11, wherein the housingincludes a circular cross-section, such that the housing is generallycylindrical in shape.
 20. The housing of claim 11, wherein an outerdiameter of the rim is less than an outer diameter of the lower body.